Feature
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PREPARE FOR DENTAL CAREERS The dental sciences program at Woodhaven High School in Michigan has helped students accelerate their careers in dentistry.
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ike many areas across the country, Michigan dental practices are grappling with a shortage of dental assistants. Parts of Wayne County, where Woodhaven High School is located, are designated as a dental care health professional shortage area. “Dental care is at a high demand,” says Dawn Damron, RDH, M.A., dental sciences instructor at Woodhaven-Brownstown School District, a position she has held since 2009. Previously, Damron worked as a dental hygienist at a private practice. Since moving into dental education, Damron has served as an advisor for the National Technical Honor Society and HOSA-Future Health Professionals. She is also a member of the advisory committee at Wayne County Community College District, the marketing team at Downriver Career Technical Consortium, and the DANB/DALE Foundation Entry Level Dental Assisting Curriculum Task Force.
Students from the dental sciences program at Woodhaven High School volunteer with TeamSmile to provide free dental care to children.
The dental sciences program at Woodhaven High School was developed by Mary Brockschmidt many years ago, says Damron. “Mary started the program and I give her all the credit. She really did the legwork to create a great curriculum.” Today, that curriculum is a two-year program that brings in students from nine different districts. Damron says the program is rigorous, covering anatomy, radiography, chairside assisting, and front office skills. The program also incorporates a variety of learning activities, such as videos and worksheets, as well as online courses from the DALE Foundation. During the program, students can take the DANB exams and when they graduate, they are eligible to earn DANB’s National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) certification. “I was very excited to incorporate the DALE Foundation courses and DANB exams into our program,” Damron says. “Being able to graduate with a certification is huge. It helps employers to verify the knowledge of the students, and it gives students confidence when they start their first job.” The program focuses on preparing students for the workforce and giving them employability skills. Several colleges and universities in the area grant credits to incoming students for completing the program, which gives them a head start in furthering their education. “We are providing students with alternative routes to career paths,” Damron explains. “The latest follow-up survey data shows that 70% of our students are working in the field.”
Summer 2022 • Page 5
